Aki Sogabe: Pioneer in Publishing

Aki Sogabe Pioneer in Publishing Who could have imagined that a little girl in Japan experimenting with paper cutting would one day grow up to illustrate books and exhibit works of art in America?Long before any gallery showings or book deals, Aki Sogabe first sold her work to her dentist’s wife for a mere 50 dollars. An art enthusiast, her first patron encouraged her to join an artist club and that led to entry in the Bellevue Arts Fair.

Humble to the core, Sogabe dismisses her artistic talent as the sole reason for her success. She stresses that luck and hard work are also essential to what she has been able to achieve in the publishing world. Her advice to those that would follow in her footsteps is to “stay hungry, work hard, and never give up.”

Meet Aki Sogabe on Oct. 11 at China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle. She is one of Northwest Asian Weekly’s nine honorees for the Asian American Pioneer Dinner. Tickets are $60 per person before Oct. 5, $75 after. For more information, please e-mail rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.